2. He must carefully separate and distinguish faith from such things; as have some kind of likeness, or agreement with it, and yet are not faith: In his Trial he must take heed, that he take not some other thing for faith: such as are, rash Credulity, Hypocritical profession, Presumption, opinion, humane Knowledge, experience, or Hope. For the first, there is a light kind of assent which men give unto doctrines in Religion, without any knowledge of the warrant and proof of them from Scripture: whatsoever effects this Credulity have, yet is it not faith, because that is ever grounded upon the Word of God. Nor may he mistake an outward hypocritical profession of the true Religion for faith: Profession of Religion, when it is destitute of the love of God, hatred of sin, trust in Christs merits, charity to men, and patience in afflictions, do no way commend a man to God, much less is it true faith. Thirdly, many Christians entertain Presumption instead of faith: They are resolved upon it, that God is their Father, and Christ died for them, and they are the children of God and true Christians, and all this without any word of God rightly applied. Fourthly, Opinion in matters of Religion may be taken by some for ⟨p. 29⟩faith, but yet it is not: for Opinion is natural, faith supernatural and given of God: Opinion is founded upon humane testimony, faith upon divine: Opinion is doubtful and wavering, faith is firm and certain. Fifthly, nor may humane Knowledge be taken for faith; for though they agree in this, that they are both employed about things true, and such things as sense cannot reach to, yet they differ manifestly: faith is Gods gift, and a light supernatural: but knowledge is a habit gotten by us, through the help of the sparkles of the light of nature, and exercise, and teaching: for the comprehending of the things of faith, there is daily need of the inspiration and illumination and quickening of Gods spirit: But the things of knowledge may be attained by the force of mans own wit and industry: faith is grounded upon the truth and power of God, besides and above the strength of nature, and the judgement of the whole world: Knowledge is grounded upon natural causes and principles, to omit other differences.
2. He must carefully separate and distinguish faith from such things; as haue some kinde of likenesse, or agreement with it, and yet are not faith: In his Tryall hee must take heede, that he take not some other thing for faith: such as are, rash Credulity, Hypocriticall profession, Presumption, opinion, humane Knowledge, experience, or Hope. For the first, there is a light kinde of assent which men giue vnto doctrines in Religion, without any knowledge of the warrant and proofe of them from Scripture: whatsoeuer effects this Credulity haue, yet is it not faith, because that is euer grounded vpon the Word of God. Nor may hee mistake an outward hypocriticall profession of the true Religion for faith: Profession of Religion, when it is destitute of the loue of God, hatred of sinne, trust in Christs merits, charity to men, and patience in afflictions, doe no way commend a man to God, much lesse is it true faith. Thirdly, many Christians entertaine Presumption insteede of faith: They are resolued vpon it, that God is their Father, and Christ died for them, and they are the children of God and true Christians, and all this without any word of God rightly applyed. Fourthly, Opinion in matters of Religion may bee taken by some for ⟨p. 29⟩faith, but yet it is not: for Opinion is naturall, faith supernaturall and giuen of God: Opinion is founded vpon humane testimonie, faith vpon diuine: Opinion is doubtfull and wauering, faith is firme and certaine. Fifthly, nor may humane Knowledge be taken for faith; for though they agree in this, that they are both imployed about things true, and such things as sense cannot reach to, yet they differ manifestly: faith is Gods gift, and a light supernaturall: but knowledge is a habit gotten by vs, through the helpe of the sparkles of the light of nature, and exercise, and teaching: for the comprehending of the things of faith, there is daily neede of the inspiration and illumination and quickning of Gods spirit: But the things of knowledge may be attained by the force of mans owne wit and industry: faith is grounded vpon the truth and power of God, besides and aboue the strength of nature, and the iudgement of the whole world: Knowledge is grounded vpon naturall causes and principles, to omit other differences.
